Pope Francis on returning from his six-day Canada trip told Journalists on Saturday that he needed to slow down, stating that he could no longer maintain his strenuous international travel schedule.

He also mentioned that if the need arose, he could resign.

The 85 year old pope said “I don’t think I can go at the same pace as I used to travel,” Pope who had rely on a wheelchair during his Canada trip because of his knee pain, said on his papal plane.

“I think that at my age and with this (knee) limitation, I have to save myself a little bit to be able to serve the Church. Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of stepping aside,” he added.